Let’s talk about a few typical relationships that people experience throughout their lives. You have the family aspect, the ones you are obligated to love. You have your significant other, the one you love by choice. Finally, the relationship I want to talk about in this piece; you have that one ultimate, true friend. They are the person you aren’t obligated to love and don’t choose to love, but you just do, unconditionally.

I like to think that when I walked into preschool at age two, Sydnie and I shared the whole love at first sight moment, only from a friendship standpoint. The truth is, I don’t know what happened that year. Somewhere in between the simplicity of recess and coloring books, Sydnie and I became the best of friends. That’s how it began and from that point on we never questioned it.

She and I never really question anything. I’ll admit, there are times that we probably should have, but those were the moments that made me most certain of our friendship. I’d like to give some examples, but I’m pretty sure both my parents and Sydnie’s will read this. The important thing is, (we never got caught) that no matter what trouble we could have gotten into or what problem we ever had to face, wouldn't be nearly as bad if we were together against it. Our lives have been intertwined since before I can remember. With that being said, I honestly don’t know a life without Sydnie in it.

What I do know, is I would take a Saturday night in with Sydnie over hanging out on a yacht with anyone else. It could be because she laughs at all my jokes or that she knows when I am lying to not just her, but to myself. There’s an even better chance that it’s because of her carefree outlook on life that always seems to balance out my anxiety-filled one. Regardless, narrowing down the reasons why Sydnie is my best friend is impossible. I won’t reduce her value and our friendship to one specific reason.

Going 1,000 miles away to college has made me appreciate things I didn’t before. One of which is my best friend being 15 minutes away. Even though it’s hard, I know that these college years will be just another obstacle we conquer together. It’s been 17 years since I met Sydnie, and being her friend is still as simple as recess and coloring books.